Leadership lessons from Invictus
Authors - Ajayya Kumar, Mohamad Abou-Zaki & Ghassan Khoury
Movies take us to a different world. Some of them touch us, some of them inspire us. A few leave us with valuable lessons that help our journey forward. In this series we look at a few movies that have left us awe-inspired while imparting valuable lessons for life.
In the movie Invictus, which depicts an episode from the political life of first Black President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, one of his staff questions him about his decision to allow white men to continue in the National Rugby team as against the wish of the council to replace them with Black men. When she points out that he is disturbing state affairs to placate a minority he says he must because that minority still controls the police, the army and the economy. “If we lose them we cannot address the other issues,” he says.
“So this rugby is just a political calculation?” she asks.
“It is a human calculation,” replies Mandela who knows he needs to take everyone along to build the rainbow nation of his dreams.
This line is the core of the movie and brings out the essence of a true leader. People are the pulse of any institution, be it a country or an organisation. A true leader would always have the ‘human aspect’ at the centre of his or her calculations and decisions and the film highlights this.
The movie, named after the poem by William Ernest Henley which kept Mandela inspired through his years in prison at Robben Island, offers several such gems of insights on leadership, strategy and success. Let’s look at a few.
1. Be a leader, not a boss
Small gestures can go a long way in inspiring staff and instilling confidence in them. It gains you their trust which is your ultimate capital to charge ahead. Invictus shows you how.
On his first day at the office as Mandela walks in what he sees is people of colour eagerly waiting for him while the white staff packing their stuff assuming that they are about to be fired. Mandela greets each of them smiling, wishing them a good morning, and goes on to assure them that everyone who wishes to continue there would have their jobs irrespective of their race or skin colour. He doesn’t expect people to fear him, bow before him, flatter him or kowtow to him. He is down to earth, but stern when the situation demands him to be so. He is a leader who asks his staff about their families and who doesn’t wish to be called Mr. President (he is lovingly called Madiba, his clan name, or Dadda by his Black staff).
In another similar instance he is seen to be byhearting the names of every player of the Rugby team all of whom he later greets personally wishing them luck for the upcoming matches. Eventually the team, which was in shambles initially, goes on to win the world cup finals defeating the widely feared ‘All Blacks’ team.
2. Lead by example
During his first meeting with the rugby team captain Francois Pienaar, Mandela asks him what his philosophy of leadership is.
“How do you inspire your team to do their best?” he asks.
After pausing for a second, Pienaar replies, “By example, I’ve always thought to lead by example, sir.”
Mandela agrees, and so do we. You will be always looked up to by your staff and it is very important how you portray yourself in front of them. Remember the words of Mandela’s greatest inspiration, Mahatma Gandhi - “My life is my message.”
Like clockwork Mandela is seen to be rising early getting ready for his morning walk everyday. In what better way could he have shown his staff the importance of discipline! Your vision and values should not be the words on a plaque at your office. You should be the living example of it. Because if you want your people to follow you, you should always take the first step. Show the courage and conviction to do that and you wouldn’t need to look back.
3. Be farsighted, build your team for the future
During the dark period of apartheid Mandela spent 30 years in prison. When he became the President, the Blacks rejoiced while the whites feared they were going to lose everything they enjoyed till then including their jobs. But to all of their surprise Mandela advocated for including white people in all affairs of state and included them not just in the rugby team, but even in his personal security. To the shock of his supporters these were men who had been deployed against his African National Congress in the apartheid era.
But Mandela was clear about his goal. What he needed was a unified country and for that, hatchets had to be buried.
A population that fought among themselves wouldn’t realise the dream of a South Africa that is ready for the modern world. So he organised rugby coaching clinics for underprivileged black kids who had always detested the rugby team which comprised mostly white men. At the end of it team spirit brings them together and ties are bonded stronger than ever.
Clearly this is the kind of farsightedness and strategy planning every leader needs. Reach across and find common ground. Look at the larger picture, set your eyes in the future and meanwhile do not let smaller things hinder you if your work is towards a larger good.
4. Set your eyes on the goal and do not sway
To Mandela, who himself played rugby during his younger days and booed the all-white team once, winning the world-cup was an opportunity. An opportunity to emerge in front of the world victorious, to show them how South Africa has mastered the art of reconciliation. He was so hell-bent on it so that he found time to byheart the names of the players, move around his schedules to make time for the matches and even risk appearing in a fully packed stadium which probably had those who were hostile to him and still considered him a ‘terrorist’ while wearing the rugby team jersey and the cap that was presented to him.
Meanwhile he also made sure he travelled around the world, met world leaders and encouraged them to invest in South Africa.
If you are a leader, this is the kind of courage, conviction and diligence that you need. Because that’s what helps you to build connections at all levels and to motivate your people. Be excited yourself about the opportunities and possibilities, and pass on that spirit to your people. Hindrances and oppositions will be aplenty, but if you have your eyes set on your big fat audacious goals and if you are gracious all through your journey to achieve them, you are all set to conjure up a better tomorrow.